GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Eddie Lacy doesnt know whether hes going to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, but the Green Bay Packers running back knows theres one major part of the rehab process from last weeks ankle injury that he doesnt like.A cold tub, which I really despise, Ive just got to tell you all that, Lacy said.Lacy was headed back there Thursday afternoon after he took part in practice on a limited basis.I went until they shut me down, Lacy said after practice. Did a couple of individual drills to see how it felt running around and, yeah, stopped when they told me to.Seated at his usual interview spot on the edge of a table in front of his locker, Lacy had his ailing left ankle covered with a compression sock so it was difficult to tell how much swelling, if any, he had. He had the ankle taped during practice.But at least he didnt require a walking boot as he did for a good portion of his rookie season, when he battled a sprained right ankle for most of the second half of the season.I dont think I would say its as bad, Lacy said. I dont think I need a boot.Lacy also battled an ankle injury early last season. Neither time did he miss a game because of it. In fact, hes only missed two games in his NFL career: one last season because of a groin injury and one as a rookie in 2013 because of a concussion.Lacy appeared on his way to a second straight 100-yard rushing game when he dropped out in the third quarter of last weeks win over the Giants. Lacy, who rushed for 103 yards in the Week 3 win over the Lions, was up to 81 yards on 11 carries when he got hurt against New York.The Packers need Lacy this week perhaps more than ever given?James Starks?tenuous situation. Starks, who finished Sundays game after Lacy dropped out, has a knee injury and also has been excused from all team activities until at least Saturday because of a death in his family.Thats what were shooting for, Lacy said. Hopefully Im able to get out there and play.Its going to come down to Sunday, he added. Im going to do everything in my power to be able to put myself in the best position when its game time to go out there and play.At this point, the Packers dont have another halfback on the roster. They could promote Don Jackson from the practice squad, and after releasing No. 3 quarterback Joe Callahan on Thursday, they have a roster spot open. However, they also might need room on the roster for defensive end Mike Pennel and cornerback Demetri Goodson. Both are eligible to be activated after serving four-game suspensions to start the season, but the Packers have until Monday to do so. Marcus Walden Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Steve Pearce Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. http://www.cheapredsoxjerseys.com/ . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Matt Barnes Jersey . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Heath Hembree Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. NEW YORK -- This season hasnt started and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver already has good news about next season.It appears theres no chance it will be affected by a work stoppage.Silver said Friday the league and players have made tremendous progress toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, saying he hoped a deal would be completed soon.We are not done, done as we say as bargainers in terms of ultimately having a completed collective bargaining agreement, but were on our way towards getting an extension done of this collective bargaining agreement, Silver said. Im very pleased to report that.Silver said the process was far different than the contentious negotiations of 2011, which led to a lockout and a 2011-12 season that was shortened to 66 games.This time, the sides have been meeting for a few months and seem eager to make a deal long before Dec. 15, when either side can notify the other of its intention to opt out of the 10-year pact, which expires in June 2021.If either side chooses to opt out, the deal would end on June 30, 2017.The sides met Wednesday, the day before owners began their two-day preseason meetings. They received an encouraging report on the status of the talks.Weve made tremendous progress and Im pleased to report that, Silver said.An agreement wasnt reached in 2011 until Thanksgiving weekend, and 16 games from each teams schedule had been shaved before the season opened on Christmas. The players guarantee of basketball-related income was reduced from 57 percent to about 50 percent.The sides arent fighting over money this time, not after the national TV deals worth more than $2.6 billion annually sent revenues soaring and the salary cap skyrocketing.Silver credited union executive director Michele Roberts for the more cordial tone of these talks and noted the role on the negotiating committee of Hall of Fame player Michael Jordan, now owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Silver said Jordans relationship with players has added an enormous amount to the atmosphere in the room.For players to see him in that position, it doesnt mean if Michael says it, it necessarily means that they should accept it as the position they should take, Silver said, but I think thatts really added a special element unique to this league to have a superstar player like that owning a team now.dddddddddddd.Longtime Commissioner David Stern led owners and former NBPA executive director Billy Hunter represented players in the last few negotiations, and the league lost games in both 1998-99 and 2011-12. Silver said both sides feel that the most recent deal has been working.I think the fortunes of the league, the fact that there is more money to distribute among our players and teams, has created an atmosphere that makes it more conducive to continue a deal that looks a lot like the current deal, Silver said.And because they are working to extend it, rather than negotiate a new one, Silver said there would be more tweaks than wholesale changes.Silver and Roberts appear to have developed a stronger working relationship than their predecessors, and players have long looked up to Jordan for what he accomplished on and off the court.All-Stars Chris Paul, the union president who took part in this weeks meeting, and vice presidents LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are among the players thinking business as well as basketball.Ill say that when you have someone like Michael Jordan now on the owners side of the table, we all remember the old slogan from when Michael was a player of `Be like Mike. I think theres the sense now for the players that thats yet another area where they want to be like Mike, Silver said. Look what hes done, taking sort of his success on the floor and translated that into being an incredibly successful businessman.Silver didnt want to comment on specifics of the deal since it had not been completed, though its expected to include new league-funded programs to help retired players with education and medical expenses, and an increase in the rookie salary scale.But hes optimistic hell be able to discuss them soon.Hopefully, we will be back to all of you in the not-too-distant future to say that negotiations have been completed, but were not quite there yet, he said.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney ' ' '